‘Cars 3’: Concept Art and Story Details Revealed for the Pixar Sequel!!

I haven’t been the biggest fan of the Cars movies, but maybe Pixar can get back on track with Cars 3. The latest installment in the franchise has just released new concept art along with story details.

USA Today reports that Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) needs help competing in the increasingly high-tech racing world. “That’s where the new trainer comes in — the sleek, yellow Cruz Ramirez is a young Hispanic female race car who instructs Lightning McQueen, as this exclusive concept art depicts during a beach run.”

Director Brian Fee says that Cars 3 has Cruz “trying to figure out how this old dog can learn some new tricks.” Fee continues: “Think of where he’d be in his career now in real time. (McQueen) is not an old man, but he’s one of the older cars on the circuit with new rookies coming in. People start to wonder and ask when he might retire.”

The Cars franchise is now 10 years old and it will be 11 when Cars 3 opens next year, but that hasn’t slowed down the series, which is incredibly lucrative with younger viewers.

The primary antagonist will be Jackson Storm. “Jackson Storm is the face of these rookies who have come onto the scene,” says Fee. “And McQueen is in a position where his entire racing generation is being pushed out. But it’s too early to be shown the door right now.”

According to USA Today “Ramirez aims to help him adapt and close the technical gap. The duo prepare in the racing off-season for McQueen’s one chance to show he’s got the goods in the Florida 500 (the equivalent of the Daytona 500).”

For fans of the series, McQueen won’t be the only one returning. He’ll be joined by tow-truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), girlfriend Sally Carrera (Bonnie Hunt), and auto-body shop owner Ramone (Cheech Marin). Voice casting for Cruz and Jackson has yet to be revealed.

Unlike Cars 2, Cars 3 is sticking to America. Specifically, the movie will be racing through the South. “This movie is a love letter to racing and the American way,” says Fee. “We’re inspired by the Americana you see traveling through the South where every small town has a dirt track.”

Cars 3 opens June 16, 2017.